Roof at old Loucks building collapses

No one was injured during a partial building collapse Wednesday afternoon at the former Loucks Middle School, but crews from the Peoria Fire Department were called, causing concern for some residents in the area.

Journal Star

Writer

Posted Aug. 16, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Aug 16, 2012 at 3:03 PM

Posted Aug. 16, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Aug 16, 2012 at 3:03 PM

PEORIA

No one was injured during a partial building collapse Wednesday afternoon at the former Loucks Middle School, but crews from the Peoria Fire Department were called, causing concern for some residents in the area.

An employee with River City Construction, the company in charge of demolishing part of the school, said the roof above a portion of the building simply came down more quickly than expected.

The resulting cloud of dust that emerged prompted several calls to 911, according the Fire Department.

Crews were called just before 2 p.m. to the building, 2503 N. University St. There, they found the roof on the older portion of the building, built in 1914, atop a pile of rubble.

The construction worker who caused the collapse said he tapped a support beam with his backhoe, causing the roof to fall hard and fast.

Slated for demolition is 25,000 square feet, about one-third, of the building, closest to McClure Avenue.

The demolition process has taken longer than expected, prompting officials at Quest Charter Academy, which will occupy the remaining 55,000 square feet of the building, to push back the first day of school to Aug. 22. Students were to return to class Wednesday.